WI Rep. Paul Tittl: “We Serve an Awesome God!”

From time to time, Capitol Ministries will be sharing the stories of how public servants became Christians and why they made the decision to commit their lives to following the example and teachings of Jesus Christ and obeying all of God’s precepts as taught in the Bible. 
 
This is the story of Wisconsin Rep. Paul Tittl, D-25, Manitowoc.  
 
“A few years ago, I shared with about 300 people at the Wisconsin Republican Convention Prayer Breakfast about different addiction courts in the state of Wisconsin  and I said, ‘There but for the grace of God, go I.’
 
“I told them: ‘I am thoroughly convinced that had I continued down my road of self-destruction, I would not be talking to you because I would be dead.’ But God can even use a guy who drank way too much and did a lot of bad stuff in his youth to serve Him in the Capitol. 
 
“I was raised in a very religious home in a mainline denomination. We went to church every Sunday. I was forced to. When I was 18, I stopped going because it didn’t have meaning to me. 
 
“In 1986 I was destroying my life through a variety of abuses and spiraling out of control. Several friends shared what Christ had done in their lives and one day I decided to watch the 700 Club at my parent’s house while they were at work. At their kitchen table, I heard that God wants to do something with my life. I said, ‘Okay Lord. If you want to do something with this life, you have to take away this alcohol problem.’ 
 
“Then I opened my Bible at random and my eyes fell on Proverbs 20:1 ‘Wine is a mocker strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.’ The Lord was answering my prayer even though I had not yet given my life to Him. 
 
“I had been trying to sell something to a pastor at a little Baptist church and he had invited me to service. I had agreed just to make a sale, but that Wednesday I really wanted to go. When I got there the parking lot was empty and the sign said the service was Thursday night. I had three appointments Thursday night, but by noon all had called to reschedule. So, I went to church and I loved it. I went again Sunday morning and on Sunday night I gave my life to Christ. 
 
“I was 24 and my life radically changed. God removed the alcohol addiction, it was miraculous. That was Feb. 9, 1986 and I reached my 33rd anniversary as a Christian. I have more years with Christ than I do without Him.
 
“At a Promise Keepers event in Colorado, I heard a speaker say more Christians were needed in public office, and I thought, I can do that. I ran and won seats on the Manitowoc City, and then, County Boards before running for the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2006. I lost but ran again in 2012 and won. 
 
“Immediately I searched for a Bible study at the Capitol. Finding none, I decided to start one. The day before I was sworn in, the pastors, deacons, and elders of Faith Church prayed over me at all three services as if they were sending forth a missionary to Madison.
 
“The next morning the first official email I sent said I was starting a Bible study in my office at the Capitol on Wednesday mornings and that all were welcome.
 
“Since that first Wednesday, I have never been alone. God has raised up an amazing group of Christian men who are serving along side of me. We encourage and pray for each other, and we share each other’s burdens. That first study counted 12 Representatives and two Senators. Two were Democrats and one of them was Jewish. 
 
“It’s important to remember that we will answer to God for our decisions, including the ones we make in our political life. Abraham Lincoln said, ‘…my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.’ And he is. 
 
“We serve an awesome God who is alive today and is willing to use people like me. I am still in awe. Sometimes when I’m worshiping on a Sunday morning, my mind drifts back to the past, and I can’t begin to understand what God saw in me. I am humbled and so thankful. One of my favorite Paul Tittl quotes is, ‘Because HE lives, I Live!’”
 
Rep. Paul Tittl, D-25, is the sponsor of the Capitol Ministries Bible study at the Wisconsin State Capitol that has been led by Mike Beresford since 2016. If you want to pray for or support Pastor Beresford’s ministry, visit capmin.org/wisconsin.